I Kicked some Serious Fluty *** Today!!! And my run was good too!

I just want to start by saying thanks to those of you who commented on my last post, I haven't had time to respond yet, but please know I read every single one and appreciated the words of encouragement and cheer! AND this post will be slightly longer - so if you only want the running bits - forward on to the GREEN. But if you are interested in the music/fluty bits, I am excited to share this successful day with my Loop Friends!

BOY was today a nerve racking one! I almost overslept the warm up class, fortunately I woke up in time and made it with a few minutes to spare - saving myself from the embarrassment of being late. After a morning of master classes, I zipped back to the dorm at 12 to change for a quick run (4miles/easy) slated for today. I decided that running over the mid-day break seems to work a little better even though it forces me into the gym and onto the treadmill which I HATE. But considering how full the schedule is, its my best option for making everything happen.

So I canned the idea of an easy run since I was short on time, and decided that as long as I didn't feel like I was really pushing it, the shorter distance would help it to still be an easier run at least than yesterday, and today, that would have to do - no time to run 9min miles and still get all 4 done!

As is my boredom on a treadmill I mostly tried to maintain between an 8-8:30pace but I changed it up a bit to keep it interesting... here is approximately what I did as far as I can remember... Mile 1: Warm up mile Incline 1% - 8:49min/mile - not sure why the treadmill settings go to strange paces like... 8:49.. or, for example 8:13 instead of 8:50 or 8:15... just sayin, its kinda weird...Mile 2: Incline 1% - 8:27min/mileMile 3: Incline .5% - 8:13min/mile Mile 3.5: Incline .5% - 8:00min/mile

OK, I got a little excited for the last half mile and may have bumped up the speed a tad... my last quarter mile was at 7:30min/mile pace with the incline at 0%. Downhill running is fun!

So after another quarter mile of running at a more reasonable speed to cool down (something around 8:49-8:30 my total result for the workout was....

4.25 miles at an overall average pace of 8:25 or maybe it was 8:27... well, something like that. Best part is, it didn't feel hard. I felt great the whole time, and was in and out of there in less than 40minutes!!!! Including some stretching time.

So Post run, I scarfed some spaghetti for lunch and a ton of water then showered up and went through the do the hair and make-up thing... pick out the right outfit... etc... etc.. etc... for my Masterclass performance that evening. I spent about two hours practicing then it was time for the next class - not the one I would be playing in...

Its challenging to play at the end of a day full of masterclasses. I literally spent the bulk of my day listening to other people play and get critiqued - some in a good way... some clearly not so well prepared, it was a little bloody for some So the entire day, all I was trying to do, was stay calm and not let my nerves get the better of me. Happy thoughts Happy thoughts Happy thoughts!!!!

Dinner hour rolled around and we had an extra half hour so I gobbled down my snack and took advantage of the performance hall being empty - and warmed up for the class in there - spent extra time with the piano, making sure I was in tune in key places, got used to the space a bit. Best thing ever!

At 7pm the class started, (I was second to play), the first girl did a fine job, but had some big issues with rhythm which ended up taking up most of her class time to fix. But she did fix them and that is the important thing in these kind of settings, being able to adjust on the spot to whatever the guest artist tells you!

8pm - MY TURN!!!!! I stepped up to the stage, said hello to Mr. William Bennett, and tried not to sound silly as I said "hello there"... ---- Every give any serious thought to what you would say if you got to meet a world famous person in your field? This is my reality this week, and this was my first time actually Playing my flute for him!!!!! To say I didn't want to embarrass myself is putting it lightly! -------- After I was all set up, I greeted the pianist and then introduced myself and my piece to the audience. Short applause a quick bow, and we were off!

If you happen to have listened to this recording of the piecewhich I included in my last couple posts as well, you know the beginning is a flute cadenza. Then the piano joins in a canon like melody before some crazy notes and another flute cadenza. For the the second flute cadenza is the treacherous one. Something about the combination of the notes, dynamic shifts, and well everything, I tend to go out like a bat outta hell and loose control here - Kinda like the start of a Marathon!!!!! LOL! But today I didn't loose control. I kept my cool, and Loved what I did. Then another canon section before the CRAZY ending!!!! AAAAHHHHHH so nervous for this! This is the section that I was worried about playing with a new accompanist without ANY rehearsal time together.

While no performance is actually perfect, this one was pretty darn close to the best playing on this piece I've ever done! Overall I felt really good about this performance, and the applause that greeted me after the final note (a High C) confirmed what I already knew - I NAILED IT!

I looked over at William Bennett - (I will refer to him from here on out as Wibb - his nickname he goes by in the flute community) - he was seated comfortably in his chair, and he looked at me with a big smile!!!! That was a sight I hadn't seen much of this week after others have performed. In some cases, he was even frowning and gave some pretty harsh first words to those folks. But not this girl! (Now you have to imagine everything he say's with a British Accent)...

"Well that was quite wonderful! Very good! You've certainly got the idea of this piece figured out!" Were his first words to me

So for the rest of the hour, Wibb gave me suggestions for how to create even more drama in the piece, he let me take more time in places in the cadenza that before I was worried I needed to be more strict in time with - I got to try some amazing new fingerings to change the color of tone on certain notes (some of which were fingerings that he invented and are not actually published in books), it was a supremely enlightening performance and learning experience! My nerves faded quickly after he told me how wonderful I sounded - many times - I hate to brag, but just this once, I'm not going to be modest on this. Today's class with Wibb was one of my proudest moments as a student and as a performer. I felt completely validated as a professional, he loved what I was already doing, I learned new things and was able to adapt quickly to his suggestions, I had fun performing under pressure, with a pianist I've never played with before (something that a couple years ago would have completely thrown me), in front of a crowd of other flutists, and a world famous teacher and performer. As we worked through the piece together, trying new things as we went - and gradually putting everything back into context, he had me play the ending one final time for the audience to enjoy. Such a compliment! So the Pianist and I launched into that final Crazy section - kinda like a too fast start to a marathon - but still on the brink of control - and it was AMAZING! The final note Rang clear in the hall and the applause launched in almost immediately!

Wibb - who had been pounding on my music stand with excitement the entire time (almost like a third performer in this craziness) turned to me and said. "Splendid, Wow!" I couldn't believe my ears!!!!

I was the last performer of the night, so as I moved off stage, folks came up to me to congratulate me on my performance - so many wonderful compliments from my peers in this program! It was the first time any of them have heard me play and I think I might have just surprised a few Everyone is very friendly, but there is always a bit of "sizing up the competition" that goes on at these things. After all, many of us end up taking the same orchestra auditions, competing in the same scholarship competitions, and job openings - this is like neutral ground where we all come together to learn from a Master!

This was a Good Day! When I think of all the tears, sweat, pain, frustration, the hours locked away practicing, and outright fear, that all go into pursuing a career as a professional musician - and as a flutist no less - I am thankful for it all, because it brought me to this place and experience today.

Tomorrow I will perform in a masterclass with the Pianist - she will be talking to the class and working with the three of us who are performing with her, about collaboration from the pianist's perspective! I'm excited, it should be a fun experience and very interesting - AND I get to play a super cool piece!!!!! Prokofiev - Flute Sonata (fourth movement) - only one of the best pieces in the entire flute repertoire!

And Pictures from the Class today!!!!!

The first performance of the piece - Just after I began playing, can you see my knees wobbling?

More of me playing - first time through - Check out Wibb's awesome sense of fashion!!!!

He seems very engaged here - that makes me happy, I've spent the last two days watching him listen to other flutists, rarely does he look like this!!!! So cool

Me talking about the piece - what it is about - Le Merle Noir = The Black Bird short and simple - I talked in a bit more detail about Messaiaen as well, and about the bird songs that inspired this piece.

Wibb and I have a good chuckle over something... probably the naughty black bird getting struck over the head by his girl friend... It was a fun story we created!

And Now I put into play some of the wonderful ideas he had for the piece!

I didn't realize he was doing this until I saw the picture, but he was acting out the music according to the story/narration we discussed while I played.

More ideas! YES Bring them, I want to learn all the things!!!!!

We were having such a great time together!!!! LOVED IT!

I had snacks for dinner remember? I got home to the dorm around 10pm and heated up some spaghetti and cracked one of my favorites - Smithwick's! But ssshhhhhhh don't tell, I'm pretty sure beer isn't allowed in the dorms

I'm sitting at my desk smiling like a lunatic for you- this is really wonderful- your hard work paid off and you are taking full advantage of your talents! Fly your flag girl- you earned every bit of it and your success will encourage other people to follow their passions.

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